First Oil from Cook Field

Enterprise Oil PLC
26 April 2000


Enterprise Oil announces first oil from its Cook field


Enterprise Oil today announced first oil from its Cook field in the UK sector
of the North Sea, ten weeks ahead of schedule. Cook is Enterprise's third
operated field and came on stream at 1325 hours on Friday, 21 April 2000. 

The field is tied back to Shell Expro's floating production vessel the
Anasuria FPSO and oil export will be via shuttle tanker with gas export via
the Fulmar pipeline to St Fergus. Cook has estimated reserves of 20 million
barrels of oil equivalent and 15 billion cubic feet of gas. Initial production
of 10,000 barrels of oil per day is anticipated to rise to 20,000 bopd by
2001.

Cook is located in UK Block 21/20a, 180 kilometres east of Aberdeen and was
discovered in 1983. Enterprise assumed operatorship in 1990 and development
sanction was granted in May 1999. The field has been successfully developed on
budget.

Pierre Jungels, Chief Executive, commented: 'Cook is an outstanding example of
how innovative thinking can unlock value from smaller assets. The hard work
and determination of the Cook team has meant the field has been brought to
production ahead of schedule and under budget. Even at low oil prices a small
field like Cook is profitable and is a model of a co-operative partnership
between infrastructure and field operator.'

Partners in the field are:

                              
Enterprise Oil plc                          Operator
Enterprise Oil Exploration Limited          25.77 per cent
Amerada Hess Limited                        28.46 per cent
British Borneo North Sea Limited            20.00 per cent
Shell U.K. Limited                          12.885 per cent
Esso Exploration & Production UK Limited    12.885 per cent


For further information, please contact:

Patrick d'Ancona, Head of Public Relations  020 7925 4160

  
Notes to Editors
 
The field is the first in the UK North Sea sector to see all drill cuttings
coated with oil-based mud collected and shipped ashore for processing, and is
also the first development to use reeled pipe in pipe in the UKCS.


Key Facts 

Discovered:             1983
Discovery Well:         21/20-2 
Location:               Block 21/20a (Licence P185) 
Operator:               Enterprise Oil plc 
Estimated Reserves :    Oil 20 mmstb
(Proven plus Probable)  Gas 15 Bcf 
Development :           Subsea tie-back to the Anasuria FPSO 
Cost:                   Capital Budget ca. £59mm
First Oil:              April 2000 
Initial Production:     10,000 bopd 
Peak Production:        20,000 bopd (year 2001)